Phuket News
Discover the latest news and updates from Thailand’s most famous and beautiful island, The Thaiger’s hometown, having previously operated as the Phuket Gazette.
Our team brings you breaking news, in-depth analysis, and exclusive stories from Phuket, covering everything from local politics and business to lifestyle and tourism. Learn about the island’s stunning beaches, vibrant nightlife, and thriving expat community, as well as keeping updated on events, and attractions.
The Thaiger is your ultimate guide to staying connected with Phuket’s ever-evolving landscape. To keep up with the most reliable news source on the island, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media.
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Sponsored Common health concerns for expats in Thailand: Prevention and protection
Moving to Thailand as an expat offers adventure, vibrant culture, and an excellent lifestyle, but it also brings some health challenges that might not be familiar to you. From tropical diseases to climate-related conditions, understanding common health concerns and knowing...
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World’s most beautiful ship, Amerigo Vespucci, docks in Phuket for free tours
The Italian tall ship Amerigo Vespucci, often hailed as the “most beautiful ship in the world,” is docked in Phuket and welcoming visitors aboard for free tours from tomorrow, November 6 to 10. This legendary vessel was built in 1931 and named after the Italian explorer and navigator Amerigo Vespucci. The ship, measuring 101 metres in length and 15.5 metres…
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Slippery surprise: Python makes ‘splash’ at Kamala Beach, Phuket
A typical day at Kamala Beach quickly transformed into an unexpected spectacle when beachgoers spotted a 100-kilogramme python swimming approximately 50 metres from the shore yesterday, November 4. Tourists enjoying the sun and sea were taken aback as the large reptile made its presence known in the water. Lifeguards on duty noticed the python around 1.10pm and promptly contacted local…
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Condor jet declares mid-descent alert on Phuket–Frankfurt route
A Condor Airbus A330-900, en route from Thailand’s paradise island of Phuket to Frankfurt, Germany, triggered a high alert after declaring an emergency while descending to its destination. Flight DE2369, operated by the German carrier, set alarm bells ringing as it squawked the 7700 transponder code, signifying a general emergency, just as it passed through 20,000 feet in German airspace.…
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Crimson crisis: Phuket’s urgent Rh-negative blood donation plea
Phuket is in the grips of a crimson crisis as the bustling tourist High Season unleashes a surge of road accidents, putting the squeeze on blood supplies for life-saving emergencies. In response, the Phuket branch of the Red Cross Society and Vachira Phuket Hospital are ramping up their efforts to boost blood reserves, particularly with a call for the desperately…
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Russian driver allegedly flees responsibility after Phuket accident
A Thai man demanded that a Russian pickup driver take responsibility for a car accident on Rawai Road in Phuket on October 29 after the foreign man twice failed to appear at a police station. The Phuket Times reported on October 29 that the Russian man, whose name remains undisclosed, allegedly ignored a red light on Rawai Road and drove…
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Bus-ting with green energy: Phuket’s smart bus takes fresh direction
All aboard the eco-friendly Phuket Smart Bus express. Phuket’s transport scene is getting a high-voltage makeover with the launch of the spanking new Phuket Smart Bus service, and it’s already steering the island’s travel scene in a new direction. Connecting Phuket Town and Patong with ease and style, this service is run by Phuket City Development Co Ltd (PKCD) and…
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Phuket motorcycle taxi driver arrested after clash with tourists
Patong police in Phuket apprehended a motorcycle taxi driver following a heated altercation between tourists and a local taxi driver. The incident unfolded on October 31 at the intersection near the football field on Thawiwong Road, leading to several charges being filed against the motorcycle driver. Around 5.30pm, two tourists had just boarded an electric vehicle (EV) taxi they had…
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Sea turtle found tangled and lifeless on Phuket beach
In a heartbreaking discovery, a young olive ridley sea turtle was found dead, entangled in fishing debris on Phuket’s Pak Phra Beach. Officials from Thailand’s Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) were alerted to the tragedy on Tuesday, October 29, by the Marine National Park Operations Centre 2. The juvenile turtle, weighing only 3 kilogrammes, was identified by DMCR’s…
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Malaysian tourist falls from Phuket hotel balcony onto parked car
A Malaysian tourist‘s trip to Phuket took a dramatic turn when she fell from a hotel balcony in Patong, landing on a parked car below. The incident occurred early today, November 1, sending shockwaves across the bustling tourist area. The local police in Patong responded swiftly to an emergency call at 4.37am, arriving at the hotel situated on Rat-U Thit…
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Phuket woman injured by stray bullet during Halloween evening
A Halloween evening in Phuket took a terrifying turn when a woman was unexpectedly struck by a stray bullet while outside her residence in Srisoonthorn. The incident occurred yesterday evening, October 31, raising concerns about safety in the usually peaceful neighbourhood. The Thalang Police, along with rescue workers, responded promptly to the distress call from Moo 8, Srisoonthorn, arriving around…
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Karon police ‘taxi’ the bull by the horns: No more illegal rides
Karon police have hit back at online accusations claiming they’ve been lax in tackling illegal taxi operations. In a bold announcement, they revealed that a whopping 208 illegal taxis have been stopped and seized since the start of July. In a statement released earlier yesterday, October 31, Karon Police reassured the public that their officers have been conducting checkpoints at…
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Russian man faces Phuket charges for mafia-like intimidation
A Russian man, accused by his compatriots of acting with mafia-like intimidation, faces charges in Phuket after allegedly threatening several individuals, including former employees. Allegations against him include cutting the brake line of a motorcycle, an act that has led to charges of attempted murder, among others. Cherng Talay Police Chief Weeraphong Rakkhito confirmed that the investigation had concluded and…
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Phuket at the helm of Asia’s Urban Act initiative
Phuket has been handpicked as the focal point for the Urban Act initiative, an ambitious drive set to spearhead low-carbon, resilient urban growth across the Asia-Pacific. The announcement was unveiled at a meeting in Phuket Provincial Hall with Governor Sophon Suwannarat and Vice Governor Ronnarong Tipsiri among the key players present. The Urban Act Project, which kicked off in April…
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Phuket road rebels: Law takes a backseat as foreign bikers run wild
Police have yet to take legal action against two foreign motorcyclists who were caught on video riding dangerously down a main road in Phuket. A Thai motorist who witnessed the reckless actions of the two foreign riders yesterday, October 29, recorded a video of their traffic violations and shared it with Phuket Times, today, October 30. The news page shared…
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French duo’s extortion plan fails to baguette away with it in Phuket
Two foreign men, believed to be French nationals, reportedly attempted to extort 2,000 baht from a Thai tourist in the Patong area of Phuket on Monday. The Thai victim shared his shocking experience on Monday, October 28, with Phuket Times to warn other tourists and to urge action from the local police. The victim revealed that the incident took place…
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Phuket’s fundraising campaign hits full beam for cancer care centre
Phuket is pulling out all the stops in a monumental bid to raise a whopping 290 million baht. The cause? Building a cutting-edge cancer care centre at Vachira Phuket Hospital. This essential government-run institution is on a mission to boost cancer treatment services for Phuket’s residents and those from neighbouring provinces. Phuket’s top brass, Governor Sophon Suwannarat, announced a traditional…
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Nine injured in van and truck collision in Phuket
A dramatic head-on collision rocked Ao Po Pier Road in Pa Khlok, Phuket as a van and a small truck collided with a bang, leaving nine people nursing injuries. The crash unfolded around 5.30pm, yesterday, October 29, near Moo 9, prompting an immediate and swift reaction from local police and emergency crews. On the scene, rescue teams found two Thai…
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Phuket not: Swift owner puts the brakes on motorcycle heist
Police in Phuket detained two men following an attempted motorcycle theft in Kathu, which was thwarted by the quick actions of the vehicle’s owner. The suspects were apprehended with two stolen motorcycles after one of them tried to steal a bike left with its keys in the ignition on October 28. The incident unfolded at 8.12pm on October 28 when…
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Mystery unbedded: Thai police dig into Canadian man’s death
Thai police are digging deep into the puzzling death of a 46 year old Canadian man discovered by a group of his friends after five days of silence. The alarm was raised in a quiet corner of Moo 8, Srisoontorn, alerting Thalang police officers to the scene at around 12.35pm, yesterday, October 28. The man’s body was found peacefully in…
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Sisters survive 10-metre fall after motorcycle crash in Phuket
Two sisters narrowly escaped death when their motorcycle, with faulty brakes, lost control and crashed into a roadside barrier, causing them to fall into a 10-metre-deep ravine. The incident occurred on a steep road in Patong, Phuket. At approximately 5.40pm yesterday, October 28, Police Lieutenant Pongpipat Kumchumpoo of the Patong Police Station received a report of a motorcycle accident on…
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Viral video captures Phuket beach fight between Thai and foreigners
A viral video showed at least one Thai national and two foreigners fighting on Patong Beach in Phuket last night. The cause of the conflict leading to the altercation remains unknown. The news Facebook page shared pictures and a video of the clash between a Thai national and two foreign men today, October 28. The nationality of the foreigners was…
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Phuket magic spells its way into Asia’s ‘Top 10’ destinations
Phuket’s tropical charm has once again worked its magic, landing it among Asia’s Top 10 island destinations, as revealed by the esteemed Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards. UK tabloid Daily Express also got into the act, gushing over Phuket’s recognition by Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards. “A stunning island in Asia has been crowned one of the best…
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Phuket beachgoers warned of Portuguese man o’ war sting operation (video)
Phuket holidaymakers at Mai Khao Beach have been warned a trip to the sandy shores could have a sting in its tail. Beachgoers in Phuket have been given a red alert about the arrival of the notorious Portuguese man o’ war – aka bluebottles. The Phuket Lifeguard Service confirmed a sighting of these perilous sea creatures yesterday, October 27, prompting a…
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Phuket expects Kazakhstani tourist surge from new direct flights
Phuket anticipates a surge in Kazakhstani tourists with the inauguration of direct flights from the Central Asian country’s remote capital, Astana. Air Astana is operating the service, and the maiden direct flight, KC163, departed from Kazakhstan and arrived in the southern island province yesterday, October 27. Suladda Sarutilavan, director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s Europe region, stated that the…
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Phuket’s new tourism tax won’t affect foreign residents or workers
Phuket’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports (MoTS) has confirmed that the upcoming tourism tax, expected to be implemented early next year, will not impact foreigners who reside or work in Thailand. A MoTS Phuket official clarified that the proposed tax has not yet been presented to the Cabinet for approval. “We should wait for any further information because now the…
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Phuket police to fast-track testimonies in The iCon Group case
Phuket Provincial Police Commander Police Major General Sinlert Sukhum has directed all police stations on the island to fast-track the summary of testimonies in the case involving The iCon Group and submit them to Phuket Provincial Police. The directive was issued during a meeting held at the Phuket Provincial Police headquarters, which saw the attendance of superintendents from all local…
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Illegal catch! Phuket cops net 12 foreigners in immigration swoop
Phuket Immigration Police swooped on 12 foreigners for violating the Immigration Act and working illegally, following a series of inspections conducted over two weeks. Immigration Police intensified their crackdown on illegal activities involving foreigners from October 9 to October 18, according to a report by the Phuket branch of the Public Relations Department (PR Phuket). Police carried out inspections at…
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Phuket faces a splash of chaos as waterworks fixes leak
Phuket Waterworks Authority (PWA) announced urgent repairs on a leaking water pipe at the notorious three-way intersection in front of Wat Patong, scheduled for tomorrow. The work, which will run from 1am to 6pm, tomorrow, Saturday, October 26, will force the closure of one westbound lane on Phra Baramee Road. Traffic chaos is expected to spill over into the surrounding…
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High stakes: Phuket shop owner rolls up on thieves for a taste of revenge
One of the cannabis shop owners in Phuket, who fell victim to two foreign thieves, yesterday tracked down the suspects and physically assaulted them at their accommodation. Several cannabis shop owners in Phuket reached out to other vendors to warn them after losing products to the two foreign thieves, whose identities remain undisclosed. CCTV footage from some of the ganja…
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Tragic drownings in Phuket claim lives of boy and British tourist
Two tragic incidents in Phuket resulted in the drowning deaths of a five year old Chinese boy and a 43 year old British tourist, police confirmed yesterday. Karon Police were notified by Chalong Hospital at 6.32pm, yesterday, October 22, about the drowning death of five year old Chinese tourist Zhang Zhiqjanna. Zhang had been swimming with his mother in the…
Phuket is a province in the south of Thailand. Phuket's beaches face the Andaman Sea allowing the west coast beaches fantastic sunsets right throughout the year. If you're looking for news in Phuket, go to thethaiger.com/phuket Or follow our instant news in our Facebook pages.
The good news is that Phuket is famous for its foodie scene with an enormously diverse range of local and international foods - Phuket and southern favorites, street food along with international choices catering for the 12 million visitors to the island each year. Thaiger follows Phuket news and information 24 hours a day with regular updates.
Phuket is only 'just' an island with a 300 metre bridge linking it to Thailand's mainland. We're always reporting in the news that the channel beneath is frequently dredged to maintain Phuket's status as an island. On the other side of Sarasin Bridge is the Province of Phang Nga.
Getting to Phuket is easy as the island has land, air and sea connections. Phuket is also used as a take-off point for local island trips as Thailand's largest island is surrounded by over 30 pristine islands. Koh Phi Phi and the famous Maya Bay are always in the news and would be the best known of the island's just off Phuket's shores.
Phuket is an island and a province. It's the largest island in Thailand – 48 km north to south, 21 km east to west.
It's about 20% smaller, in area, than Singapore but much less densely populated. Whilst the island nation of Singapore boasts a population of nearly 6 million, Phuket has a permanent population of around 400-450,000 (but varies a lot with the influx of tourists and a workforce that is always changing). Most of Phuket remains jungle and tropical rainforest despite an acceleration of development over the past 20 years.
Unlike some of Thailand's other popular islands (that are in the Gulf of Thailand), the news is that Phuket is located in the Andaman Sea.
Phuket is 878 km north of the equator.
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